37 miners dead, 25 hospitalised over ‘gas poisoning’ in Plateau

At least 37 miners have reportedly died following exposure to carbon monoxide while working at an underground mining site in Zurak, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday.

The report stated that the victims, mostly young men between the ages of 20 and 35, were engaged in routine mining operations when they inhaled toxic gas that seeped from the tunnels.

Eyewitnesses said the miners collapsed inside the shafts shortly after exposure.

Twenty-five other victims were rushed to a nearby health facility, where they are currently receiving medical attention.

Joyce Ramnap, commissioner for information in Plateau State, confirmed the development to TheCable but noted that she had not yet been fully briefed on the exact casualty figures.

Police sources disclosed that the mining site has been secured to prevent further exposure and to enable investigators ascertain the cause of the suspected gas leak.

Photographs obtained by TheCable showed the bodies of the miners covered in white, powdery substances.

Research published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that underground miners face the risk of exposure to dangerous levels of toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, often generated by mine fires or explosions.

Similarly, the Mayo Clinic explains that excessive carbon monoxide in the air can displace oxygen in the bloodstream, potentially causing severe tissue damage or death.